Alexander Iskandaryan on Armenia's internal political life and NKR conflict
“I expect certain changes in Armenia’s internal political life in this year. The changes have already begun regarding the Parliamentary elections to be held on 2 April,” Director of the Caucasus Institute, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan noted the aforesaid during today’s press conference, Panorama.am reports.
According to him the most important change is related to the political situation following the elections rather than the election results, as our country will transfer to a new political system_ the Parliamentary system.
The political scientist noted that the period preceding the expiration of the president’s liabilities would also be interesting. “The two different political systems are going to intertwine in that period,” he said.
Turning to the external political issues, namely to the NKR conflict, A. Iskandaryan said that he did not expect any changes in the peace talks, as there are limited opportunities.
“For several years already OSCE Minsk Group is working on reducing the violence or keeping it in certain limits rather than trying to settle the conflict,” the political scientist noted.
Speaking about the Azerbaijani activities on the Line of Contact he noted that the shots and sabotage infiltration attempts will continue.
“Large-scale escalations are possible on the frontline. It is difficult to say whether the April war will be repeated or not, as it depends on the internal political and economic developments in Azerbaijan, as well as on oil prices,” he said.
Asked whether the policy run by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump can make any changes in the peace talks A. Iskandaryan noted that the international society is gradually losing its interest towards the Caucasus region, which can leave an impact on the NKR conflict. According to him currently the international society is more focused on the issues of the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as on the relations between Russia and the West.